BRUCE MCLAREN: Please call before you dig

SAN ANGELO, Texas - I am sure you have seen the public service announcements where you are advised to “Call Before You Dig.” With so many utility and technology services coming into our homes underground, rather than overhead, this makes a great deal of sense. It is doubtful that any of us would like to start digging in our backyard and have the shovel come into contact with buried electrical, gas or cable TV lines.

We have been considering some construction work in our backyard, an extended slab for our patio with a footing to support some brickwork. With all due diligence, I consulted the Web for information on calling before digging. The address is www.call811.com.

Information covers everything you might need to know including planting a tree, installing a hedge, digging for a small pond, fence and mailbox installation, deck work and pouring concrete. In big, bold letters on the first page, the site says, “Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hire a professional, smart digging means calling 811 before each job.”

In many cases, even the smallest digging project where 811 had not been involved could result in service disruption to an entire neighborhood, harm to you and those around you, as well as possible fines or repair costs. Caution was recommended. Getting utilities marked is easy and free.

“How simple could this be?” I thought. I made the call to the national 811 number and was routed to a local One Call Center. An operator asked questions about what I was planning to do, where the digging was to be done, contact data and other additional information needed to find my location.

Given a confirmation number, I was told that the utility companies would send “professional locators” to my address and mark the underground lines within the next few days. “Be sure to listen carefully and write down the confirmation number.” I was thanked, several times, for calling 811.

I was pleased with the ease in which all of this was arranged. The cable company was the first to do the marking and they did exactly what was promised. Small flags were placed and bright orange marks were sprayed indicating where the cable came in the yard and where it connected into the house. It gave me peace of mind until the other utility companies came to do their part. Then, the marking process took a definite turn in another direction.

Next day, when I got home from work, there were three sprayed markings, totally unreadable, near my existing patio. No marked lines, as to where the utilities were located, were to be seen.

Waiting a couple of days with no further activity, I called 811 again and explained my concern about not having the gas or electrical lines clearly marked. The operator said another call to mark those utilities would be initiated and should be taken care of within the next few days. A new confirmation number was provided and I was thanked, again, for calling.

The following day I received a call informing me that my gas meter had been located in the alley where the line went into my yard and that was all they do. Furthermore, it was my responsibility to have a plumber or other professional locate the line from the fence to the house.

I reminded the caller that, according to Dig 811, my underground utility lines would be marked for free in my yard. Besides which, I knew where my gas meter was and didn’t need it located.

Very polite and apologetic, he explained it was the gas company’s policy not to mark lines inside a homeowner’s yard. It appears this is a local decision and should probably be shared with the people who put the Dig 811 promotions together. I never did hear about the buried electric lines.

It will be considerably more costly than “free” to hire a plumber or lawn sprinkler person to come and mark the gas line, but hey, I might even get them to do the electrical line as well.

Next time you plan to do something in your yard where utilities might be buried, call 811, but be prepared to pay someone else to find most of the lines before you dig. That is the fine print not found on the Web page.